…64 | OCTOBER 12 • 2023 J N S inger-songwriter Jesse Palter has led no ordi- nary life. The West Bloomfield-born Jewish artist has written music since as early as middle school and, by the age of 15, she was working with the prestigious Bass Brothers record label, which is regarded worldwide for launching Eminem’s early career. In high school, she often trav- eled to Los Angeles to record music, giving her her first glimpse at the r...…
…OCTOBER 12 • 2023 | 65 J N songs to the group. “It was this wide-open music lane, ” she recalls. Without any marketing, Palter began to lead similar groups for babies and young children throughout the Los Angeles area, developing her own method for teaching. A NEED FOR CHANGE Yet everything came to an unexpected halt when her hus- band, Bryan Abrams, suffered a so-called “widowmaker” heart attack just six months after their son, J...…
…I t’s been more than 80 years since World War II, but in the modern-day age, lin- gering stereotypes persist. So how does one navigate those stereotypes in a relationship where two parties come from opposite sides of the world — and life? Enter Shira Shalev (Moran Rosenblatt) and Maria Muller (Luise Wolfram), an Israeli Jewish and German lesbian couple living in Shalev’s apart- ment in Tel Aviv. Then there’s Shalev’s con- servativ...…
…OCTOBER 12 • 2023 | 67 J N boisterous and screwball family are supportive of the upcoming nuptials, Posnansky has a differ- ent attitude. Scarred by memories of the Holocaust, she has an unwavering dislike and dis- trust for Germans. Shalev’s grandmother proves to be the couple’s biggest obstacle as she hurls stereotypes at Muller, generally right in front of Shalev. Still, Muller faces pressure from other directions as well. While...…
…68 | OCTOBER 12 • 2023 J N BILLONS OF YEARS IN 5 EPISODES, WWII DRAMA RETURNS, GOOSEBUMPS Premiering on Wednesday, Oct. 4, was the first epi- sode of the five-part PBS series Nova: Ancient World. The last four epi- sodes premiere on succes- sive Wednesdays. Check local listings for the many repeat airings, and the series is available, free, on the PBS app. Ancient World covers, literally, billions of years in the Earth’s history....…
…OCTOBER 12 • 2023 | 69 J N STAGE PLAY NOW-OCT. 15 The Inspired Acting Company, 1124 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, is presenting a powerful and thought-provoking produc- tion of Cadillac Crew by Tori Sampson. It is a mesmer- izing exploration of family, identity and the complexities of the human experience. Performances are Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. General admission tickets are $35 and $30 (unde...…
…DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com Hatikvah As long as within our hearts The Jewish soul sings, As long as forward to the East To Zion, looks the eye – Our hope is not yet lost, It is two thousand years old, To be a free people in our land The land of Zion and Jerusalem. (The Hope) JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT …
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…OCTOBER 12 • 2023 | 71 J N OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY BEVERLY BROWN- KLEIN-HORDS, 84, died Sept. 27, 2023, in Savannah, Ga., from Parkinson’s and dementia yet lived with a gentle spirit and positive outlook. This mom was a caring, generous and beautiful woman, who loved art, culture, gardening, travel and volunteering. She graduated from Oakland University at age 60. She was dearly loved by her boys, Joel and Glenn; their ...…
…72 | OCTOBER 12 • 2023 J N F or the esteemed Judge Edward Sosnick, “Honorable” was more than a professional title; it applied to every aspect of his life. His generous spirit and genuine desire to help others made him a beloved jurist and a cherished husband, father, “Poppy, ” friend and community leader. Judge Sosnick, who lived in Bloomfield Hills, died on Sept. 22, 2023, at the age of 82. Ed Sosnick was known as a fair yet c...…
…OCTOBER 12 • 2023 | 73 J N OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY in Birmingham. Contributions may be made to the Michigan Humane Society. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. FERN “PUDGY” KAHN, 87, of White Lake, died Sept. 26, 2023. She is survived by her sons and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Renee Kahn, Barry and Patti Kahn, and Brad Kahn; grandchildren, Daniel Kahn and Jenna Kahn. Mrs. Kahn was the beloved wife of the late Jordan Kahn; si...…
…74 | OCTOBER 12 • 2023 J N OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY continued on page 76 Society, mihumane.org; or Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, jhcn.org. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. PATRICIA KOURKOULIOTIS, 82, of Novi, died on Oct. 1, 2023. She is survived by her children, Alena Kourkouliotis and Lisa (Jeffrey Slomovitz) Kourkouliotis; grandchildren, Alyssa Gray, Abbey Kourkouliotis and Zachary Slomovitz; sister and brother-...…
…OCTOBER 12 • 2023 | 75 J N Most cremations are performed due to financial pressures. Allow us to give you options. Jewish Federation of Detroit Jewish Federation of Detroit Honors the Memory of Honors the Memory of Ellen Labes 1933–2023 On Behalf of a Grateful Community On Behalf of a Grateful Community 23_EXE_JNAd_DeathNotice_Labes.indd 1 …
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 76 | OCTOBER 12 • 2023 J N growing up. She had a love of mahjong and having dinner with her friends. She also loved a good rerun of Law and Order SVU, Mash and shows on the game show network; she would watch the Harry Potter movies every chance she got. She also loved word search puzzles, Euchre and so many dogs over the years. Carolyn enjoyed spending time talking to her granddaughter Amelia every ...…
…OCTOBER 12 • 2023 | 77 J N Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at thejewishnews.com Cars from the Past L ast month, the Detroit Auto Show, or using its formal name, the North American International Auto Show (NAIA), was held on Sept. 13-24. While no longer the largest auto show in America, it is still one of the oldest, per- haps the oldest, in U.S. history. The roots of the NAI...…
…78 | OCTOBER 12 • 2023 J N Jewish Joke of the Week What do you get when you mix a Jewish family with fruit? Apple Jews. Just for Fun 78 | OCTOBER 5 • 2023 J N Build your own custom worksheet at education.com/worksheet-generator © 2007 - 2023 Education.com Word Search S F K S M J N Z K X T K T R M O H K K H I B O U O O O A U T O I A I I A T T S N R S L E M C P S B B G L Z Z H A H L X E M C H I B U E O V E H E I O N F H R T Y A U N ...…
…8 | OCTOBER 12 • 2023 J N essay What Can We Do? T hese past two days have been the most difficult for our peo- ple in the last 50 years. It was Simchat Torah, a time for rejoicing, yet it was a time of horror. Nearly a thousand members of our family were bru- tally murdered, more than a hundred were taken hostage, and thousands more were injured. After the Holocaust, we vowed, “Never Again.” Yet, since the Holocaust, we hav...…
…Member FDIC. ⬢®, Huntington® and ⬢ Huntington. Welcome.® are federally registered service marks of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. ©2023 Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. People are at the heart of what we do. At its heart, a business is about people. A group of people coming together to create something bigger than themselves. To create a solution or a product or an experience in the service of other people. At Huntington, it’s our...…
…OCTOBER 12 • 2023 | 9 J N …
…$200 Jan. 12-18, 2023 / 19-25 Tevet 5783 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com Germany Close Up Young professionals from The Well embark on a life-changing trip. See page 26 …
…10 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 I n celebration of its 80th anni- versary last year, the Detroit Jewish News reprinted and distributed its first edition from March 27, 1942. Like any publica- tion, this inaugural edition provides a snapshot at that moment of Jewish life in both Detroit, America and else- where. A careful read- ing reveals a local community encountering both challenges and opportunities in the face of latent discriminati...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 11 …
…12 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 W hen Rabbi Aharon Amzalak sees an opportunity to help people, he grabs it. So, it’s no surprise that he served as the Jewish staff chaplain at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak for 11 years. He recently transitioned to staff chaplain at Ascension Spiritual Care in Southfield and Novi. In December 2021, the good-hearted Australian rabbi noticed that a house next to the hospital was available for sale. He realiz...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 13 connected him to Rabbi Amzalak. “He said we could stay in the house as long as we needed, ” Abromovitz shared. “Being there was a tremendous benefit for my mother in every possible way; she was able to recover physically, mentally and emotionally. It was a true home away from home. ” More guests stayed in other rooms at different intervals, and he enjoyed meeting them. “The house is well furnished, so com- fort...…
…14 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY T he Well, NEXTGen Detroit and the Women’s Philanthropy Tikkun Olam Volunteers (TOV) at Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit are all coming together for a Dignity Grows pack party with Brilliant Detroit as the distribution partner. The partnership is fundrais- ing to create Dignity Grows Totes, which are filled with a month’s supply of personal hygiene products and essential period it...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2022 | 15 Lifetime dental group is a locally owned dental practice providing complete dental care for the entire family. Our experienced dentists utilize the most advanced technology to provide elite dental care. For over 25 years we have been entrusted by thousands of patients and we are honored to now serve the city of West Bloomfield! (248) 855-8000 4320 Orchard Lake Rd West Bloomfield Township, MI 48323 www.lifeti...…
…16 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY A s has often been said, the only constant is change. JGrand, part of JFamily Detroit, first launched its programming in February 2022. And before 2022 was through, the Jewish grandparenting- focused organization was ready to expand access to its program- ing to “grand-friends. ” There is truly no greater blessing than grandparents. Lori Fidler, coordinator of Grandparent Engagement at JG...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 17 OUR COMMUNITY JBAM Offers Law Student Scholarships The Jewish Bar Association of Michigan (JBAM) will award its annual $1,500 scholarship to a law student who exempli- fies the character and values of the late attorney Charles J. Cohen. A Michigander at heart, he was a staunch advocate for his clients. An avid supporter of JBAM and the Jewish commu- nity, he continually stressed the importance of legal ed...…
…18 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 T he Dearborn man charged with ethnic intimidation after spewing antisemitic and racist remarks at parents and children in the Temple Beth El parking lot last month was bound over for trial on Jan. 5 by Bloomfield Hills Judge Kimberly Small. Small also continued his $1 million bond. The case will now move to Oakland County Circuit Court. During the hearing of Hassan Chokr, 35, who appeared via video in 48...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 19 T he Detroit Jewish News Foundation is excited to welcome Marni Raitt as its first-ever executive director. In this newly created position, Marni will be overseeing all aspects of the Foundation and its two primary programs, the William Davidson Archives of Detroit Jewish History and the Detroit Jewish News. Marni is a native Metro Detroiter who grew up in West Bloomfield, spent summers at Camp Tam...…
…20 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 C habad Jewish Center of Troy cel- ebrated Chanukah with a giant community-wide event for Jews east of Woodward. More than 250 Jewish people joined the party called “Chanukah on Ice, ” which included ice skating, a giant ice menorah, a figure skating show from the Detroit Skating Club, Chanukah arts and crafts and, of course, Chanukah food. The public Chanukah celebration is being heralded as a response to the...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 21 Team and Robert Silverstein Mortgage Lending. Hebrew Free Loan Executive Director David Contorer and HFL incoming president Allen Berman shared how Hebrew Free Loan is making a difference in people’s lives with inter- est-free loans. “We were thrilled that Rabbi Menachem Caytak’s outreach has successfully connected 800 Jewish families from Troy, Madison Heights, Rochester, Shelby Township and other parts of...…
…S coring 1,000 career points is the gold stan- dard for a high school basketball player. Bloomfield Hills High School star point guard Noah Adamczyk reached the 1,000- point mark last month in spec- tacular fashion, turning defense into offense in a blink of an eye. The play started near mid- court late in a game against Plymouth on Dec. 14 at Bloomfield Hills. Adamczyk knew at the time that he needed two more points to reach 1,000....…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 23 1,000 points. I’ll always remem- ber the night I did it. I took it all in over the next few days, ” he said. Adamczyk has the game ball from the Plymouth game. He hasn’t written anything on the ball yet, but the shoes he wore that night have the date and 1,000 written on them. “Those shoes are in my game rotation of four or five pairs of shoes, ” Adamczyk said. “I wore them again when we played Detroit Henry ...…
…24 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 faces&places On Sunday, Dec. 18, Downtown Synagogue hosted its Annual Meeting and Chanukah Party. More than 100 people came out to schmooze, celebrate, eat and light menorahs together. Guests danced to funky Chanukah music by Detroit band 7Layers and watched the flame-throwing menorah light up the Detroit sky. Downtown Synagogue’s building is currently under renovation (scheduled to be complete late spring 20...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 25 Over 150 people gathered at Shir Tikvah for a magical Chanukah celebration on the first night of Chanukah. Magic by Baffling Bill illuminated the night, followed by candle lighting, Chanukah songs, sweets and even a selfie booth. Robyn Rinke, Haviva Ferrier and Debra Yamstein Children served as assistants to Baffling Bill the magician. More than 150 people came to celebrate the first night of Chanukah. PHOTOS...…
…26 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 Young professionals from The Well embark on a life-changing trip. Germany Close Up PHOTOGRAPHY BY YEVGENIYA GAZMAN NEXTDOR VOICE OF A NEW GENERATION Track 17, memorial initiated by Deutsche Bahn, the German national railway service. …
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 27 O n Nov. 8, a group of young professionals from The Well, a community- building nonprofit led by Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh, embarked on an eight-day adventure in Germany. Germany Close Up is an initiative created to enrich transatlantic dialogue and provide Jewish North American young professionals in their 20s and 30s with an opportunity to experience modern Germany up close and personally. The trip began with a...…
…28 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 NEXTDOR VOICE OF A NEW GENERATION AN INTENSE COMMEMORATION BY ISAAC VINEBURG Our group was honored to attend a memorial held by Berlin’s Jewish community for the 84th anniversa- ry of Kristallnacht. Held outside the former Fasanenstrasse Synagogue, destroyed the night of Nov. 9, 1938, the community gathered to remember. A reading of the names of Holocaust victims from Berlin began hours before. By the time ...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 29 BLOCK DER FRAUEN / BLOCK OF WOMEN BY STEPHANIE BELSKY Never underestimate the power of a group of angry women. One of the most impactful memo- rials we saw while in Berlin was covered in graffiti, in a small park in the empty lot and former home of the Alte Synagogue — “The Old Synagogue” — which was destroyed in World War II on Rosenstrasse, one of Berlin’s oldest streets, and the site of the Jewish commun...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 3 PURELY COMMENTARY 4-10 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 12 Hospitality House Bais Refoel Foundation provides a place to stay for those with loved ones at Beaumont Hospital. 14 Dignity Grows The Well, NEXTGen Detroit and Women’s Philanthropy partner to help low-income women. 16 Grand-Friends Are Welcome Jgrand expands to include more people in its programming. 17 JBAM Offers Law Stu...…
…30 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 NEXTDOR VOICE OF A NEW GENERATION REMEMBRANCE CULTURE BY YEVGENIYA GAZMAN When Jakob Hoffmann, one of the Germany Close Up guides, used the term “remembrance culture” at our welcome and introduction meeting in Berlin, Germany, I thought, “How novel and insightful a term.” I did not realize how accurate, ingrained and common the term would be for The Well’s experience with Germany Close Up. Germany Close U...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 31 we traveled to and toured the memorial and museum at the former concentration camp Sachsenhausen. This is the very concentration camp to which Jews were sent following Kristallnacht. Almost 6,000 Jews arrived in Sachsenhausen in the days following the Kristallnacht riots. Our group welcomed Kabbalat Shabbat at the New Synagogue in Berlin. Prior to the evening service, we sat down to a conver- sation with a ...…
…32 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 NEXTDOR VOICE OF A NEW GENERATION The Neue Wache (Federal Republic of Germany’s memorial to the victims of war and tyranny) Johanna Blender and Jacob Sable Group photo in Halberstadt Jacob Sable in Halberstadt Visiting the Jewish cemetery in Halberstadt Jacob Sable and Erica Meyers continued from page 31 …
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 33 The group walks through Shalekhet (Fallen Leaves) by sculptor Menashe Kadishman at the Jewish Museum Berlin. Jacob Sable, Stephanie Belsky, Yevgeniya Gazman and Johanna Blender Group at the Berlin Wall Julia Tapper and Shayna Tapper Group on a tour of the Brandenburg Gate Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh and his wife, Stephanie Belsky …
…34 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 NEXT DOR I t was the perfect ending to the 2022 calendar, as NEXTGen Detroit hosted two amazing events to kick off the holiday season. Chanukah started a bit early, as NEXTGen Detroit held its monthly happy hour, L ’Chaim Detroit, with a fun dreidel spin. Over 110 guests enjoyed a latke bar, dressed up in Chanukah sweat- ers and sipped on good drinks at Oak Park Social on Dec. 13 for L ’Chanukah Detroit. ...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 35 To celebrate Israel’s 75th birthday, ACHI, American Communities Helping Israel, is launching “2023: Year of the Klee.” ACHI is encouraging everyone to have a KLEE in their home to show support for Israel. Klee stands for “Klee L’ezrat Yisroel,” a vessel to help Israel. The idea is to dedicate a plate, bowl, mug, or platter to fill with products from Israel. There are three ways to make a Klee • Take somethi...…
…business SPOTlight brought to you in partnership with B I R M I N G H A M 36 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 here’s to The Jewish Theological Seminary awarded honorary doctorates to 40 rabbis at a recent convocation ceremony. JTS celebrated and honored the achievements of these important members of the rabbinate for their more than 25 years of service. Among them was a Detroiter, Rabbi Michele Faye Faudem of Hillel Day School of Me...…
